Will Be Deployed At DRF’s Base In Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

Airbus Helicopters, in cooperation with DRF Luftrettung, has performed the first retrofit of a four-bladed H145 into the new five-bladed version. The helicopter, an H145 of the German HEMS operator, was first delivered in 2018 and will be deployed at DRF’s base in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.

Airbus Helicopters concluded the 2020 Heli Expo with 38 orders, as well as 20 retrofits for the new five-bladed H145. German air rescue and ambulance provider DRF Luftrettung placed an order for 15 H145s, making them the largest operator of the H145.

The upgrade to the five-bladed version can be performed by every Part 145 maintenance organization by following the associated service bulletin issued by Airbus Helicopters. It consists in exchanging the rotor system, updating the helicopter’s Helionix avionics suite and installing a new horizontal stabilizer.

The innovative five-blade bearingless rotor increases the useful load and further enhances the mission capabilities of the aircraft, while eliminating rotor hub maintenance.

DRF Luftrettung is one of the biggest HEMS operators in Europe. The DRF Group operates more than 50 Airbus helicopters at 35 bases throughout Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein for emergency rescue and intensive care transports including rescue winch operations and day and night operations. In 2019, the group carried out a total of 40,738 missions.

FMI: www.airbus.com